Tool for handling incandescent bulbs



Mar. 26), 11923.

E. WEBER TOOL FOR HANDLING INCANDESCENT BULBS Filed Dec. 27, 1921 wua'ntoz 'Wf atented Mar. 20, 1923.

UNITED STATES" EDMUND WEBER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TOOL FOR HANDLING INCANDESCENT BULBS.

Application filed December 27, 1921 Serial No. 524,959.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND WEBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usethese books being engaged with plus exful Improvements in Tools for Handling Incandescent Bulbs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates broadly to improvements in tools, having more particular reference to a device of this class which is especially designed for-handling, that is, re-

moving or replacing, incandescent bulbs.

The principal object of the invention is i to generally improve upon tools of this class by providing one of extreme simplicity and durability which is such in construction that it can be easily and readily handled for removing horizontally disposed bulbs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent-during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed -to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a sectional view, with parts in elevation, of a bulb handling tool constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the lower portion of the handle showing the manner in which the sections are connected with one another.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the manner of anchoring the flexible driving connection.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the numeral 1 designates an elastic body, preferably formed of rubher, which is constructed to provide a vacuum cup 2, adapted to grip the enlarged end of the bulb B, and a reduced handle socket 3.

For use in connection with this body I have devised a novel handle which is such as to enable the tool to be conveniently manipulated for handling horizontally disposed bulbs and this handle'i-h its preferred form comprises cylindrical wooden sections 4, 5 and 6 respectively, the first two sections of which are connected together for rotation by means of a flexible driving connection 7 in the form of a coiled spring. Although the spring could be connected with these sections a and 5 ins'ome other way, the adjacent ends of the sections are preferably formed with kerfs or notches 8 into which the hooked ends 9 of the spring extend,

tending cross-Wise of the notches. The handle is designed to be of considerable length so that thetool can be manipulated for handling bulbs at considerable elevations and in order to enable it to be adjusted to the desired length, I detachably connect the sections 5 and 6 together as disclosed in F igure 2. By referring to this figure it will be seen that the upper end of the section 6 carries a fixed ferrule 11 and the adjacent ends of the section extend into this ferrule and the ends of both sections are notched and arranged in overlapping relation as indicated at 12. If it is found that the section 5 is sufficiently long to enable the particular work to be carried on, the section 6 can be detached. If, however, the bulb is at a height which is such as to render the section 5 too short, the remaining section 6 is added.

It has been before indicated. that the body 1 and handle are adapted to be disposed in fixed angular relations so as to insure effective operation of the tool for removing side wall lights and to accomplish this end, I simply employ longitudinally curved rigid metal sleeve 14 which surrounds the flexible connection 7 and imparts a permanent. curved shape thereto as indicated in Figure 1. This figure also discloses that the sections 4 and 5 of the handle extend into the adjacent enlarged ends 15 of the tube and are rotatable therein. By enlarging the ends of the tube in this manner, shoulders 16 are formed and the inner ends of the handle sections 4 and 5 abut the shoulders and are thus prevented from being drawn into the central part of the tube by the coiled spring.

In use, the rubber cup 2 is forced onto the enlarged portion of the bulb and the handle is grasped and rotated, the sections 4 and f lming simultaneously rotated by the Hexible ldriving connection 7 It therefore follows" that the bulb is disengaged from its socket and removed to enable it to be replaced by a new one. Practice has taught that if the cup 2 tends to slip off of the bulb, the space occurring between the bulb and cup will serve to create a slight vacuum and will consequently prevent accidental .4 35 PATENT oFF1c angular relation of parts, there isnbsolutely little or no possibility of the bulb being broken.

By carefully considerinv the description in connection with the drawings, persons familiar with devicesof this class will doubtless be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention. Therefore, a more lengthy and detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

Since probably the best results may be obtained with the construction and arrangement herein shown and described, this is taken as the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, I wish it to be understood that minor changes coining within the scope of the invention as claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

A tool handle comprising a air of spaced sections having slots formed in their inner ends, an elongated coil spring arranged between said inner ends and having hooks at its opposite ends extending into said slots, pins extending crosswise of said slots, said hooks being engaged with said pins, and a rigid elongated sleeve surrounding said spring, said sleeve being turned longitudinally to flex said spring to dispose the handle sections in a fixed angular relation, and said sleeve having its opposite ends enlarged in diameter to provide shoulders, the inner slotted ends of said handle sections extending into the enlarged ends of said sleeve and engaged with said shoulders.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDMUND W EBER. 

